Why 'Hail to the Chief' remains unsung

Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Barack Obama is sworn in as the first African-American president of the United States on January 20, 2009.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – George W. Bush stands next to his wife, Laura, and his two daughters at his second inauguration on January 20, 2005.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – George W. Bush is sworn in for his first term on January 20, 2001.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Bill Clinton is sworn in for the second time on January 20, 1997.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Bill Clinton takes his first inaugural oath on January 20, 1993.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice William Rehnquist administers the oath of office to President George H. W. Bush on January 20, 1989.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Ronald Reagan is sworn in on January 21, 1985, at the U.S. Capitol for his second term by Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as 40th president of the United States on January 20, 1981.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Jimmy Carter is sworn in on January 20, 1977.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger swears in Gerald Ford on August 9, 1974, after the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administers the oath of office to Richard M. Nixon for his second term at the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1973.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Richard Nixon takes the oath of office as he is sworn in as the 37th president of the United States on January 20, 1969.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Lyndon B. Johnson, left, is sworn in for his second term by Chief Justice Earl Warren on January 20, 1965.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Lyndon B. Johnson takes the oath of office on November 22, 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline, stands at Johnson's side. U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes swore in Johnson on Air Force One.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – John F. Kennedy is sworn in on January 20, 1961.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – A crowd gathers outside the U.S. Capitol for Dwight D. Eisenhower's second inauguration on January 20, 1957.

Presidential inaugurations and oaths – President Harry S. Truman waves to the crowd from a car during a parade after his inauguration speech on January 20, 1949.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone administers the oath of office to Harry S. Truman in the Cabinet Room of the White House on April 12, 1945, after death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his fourth and final inauguration speech on January 20, 1945. He was the last president allowed to hold more than two terms.

Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes Sr. administers the oath of office to Franklin D. Roosevelt for his second term on January 20, 1937. This marked the first January event; before this, inaugurations were traditionally held in March.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Franklin Delano Roosevelt is sworn in for his first term on March 4, 1933.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Herbert Hoover's inauguration is held on March 4, 1929.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Calvin Coolidge is sworn in for his second term on March 4, 1925.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Calvin Coolidge is given the oath of office by his father, Col. John Coolidge, in Plymouth, Vermont, on August 3, 1923, after the death of President Warren G. Harding.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Warren G. Harding is sworn in on March 4, 1921.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Soldiers pass the viewing stand during the inaugural ceremony for Woodrow Wilson's second term on March 4, 1917.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Woodrow Wilson's first inauguration was held on March 4, 1913.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – William Howard Taft was inaugurated on March 4, 1909.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Theodore Roosevelt takes the oath of office for his second term on March 4, 1905.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Theodore Roosevelt takes the oath of office in Buffalo, New York, on September 14, 1901, after the assassination of President William McKinley.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Melville Fuller administers the oath of office to President William McKinley for his second term on March 4, 1901.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – William McKinley takes his first the oath of office on March 4, 1897.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Grover Cleveland's second inauguration is held on March 4, 1893.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller administers the oath of office to Benjamin Harrison on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1889. Harrison served between Cleveland's two terms.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Grover Cleveland delivers his first inaugural address to the crowd on the east portico of U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1885.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – New York Supreme Court Justice John R. Brady administers the oath of office to Vice President Chester A. Arthur in a private ceremony in Arthur's residence in New York on September 20, 1881, after the assassination of President James A. Garfield.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite administers the oath of office to James A. Garfield on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1881.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Rutherford B. Hayes takes the oath of office from Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol on March 5, 1877.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase administers the oath of office for Ulysses S. Grant's second term on March 4, 1873.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Ulysses S. Grant takes his first oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 4, 1869.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Andrew Johnson takes the oath of office from Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase in Washington on April 15, 1865, after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Abraham Lincoln take the oath of office for the second time on March 4, 1865.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – The first inauguration of Abraham Lincoln takes place on March 4, 1861.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – James Buchanan's inauguration is held at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1857.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Chief Justice Roger B. Taney administers the oath of office to Franklin Pierce on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1853.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Millard Fillmore was sworn in on July 10, 1850, after the death of President Zachary Taylor.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Zachary Taylor is sworn in on March 5, 1849.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – James K. Polk was sworn in on March 4, 1845.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – John Tyler took the oath of office on April 6, 1841, after the death of William Henry Harrison, who died after just 32 days in office.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – William Henry Harrison took the oath of office on March 4, 1841.

Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Andrew Jackson was sworn in for his second term on March 4, 1833.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Andrew Jackson was inaugurated for his first term on March 4, 1829, on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – John Quincy Adams was sworn into office on March 4, 1825.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – James Monroe was sworn in for his second term on March 4, 1821.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – James Monroe was sworn in for his first term on March 4, 1817.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – James Madison was inaugurated for his second term on March 4, 1813.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – James Madison was sworn in for his first term on March 4, 1809.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Thomas Jefferson was sworn in for his second term on March 4, 1805.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated for his first term on March 4, 1801.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – John Adams was inaugurated on March 4, 1797.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – George Washington stands outside his carriage at his second inauguration on March 4, 1793.

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Presidential inaugurations and oaths – Sword by his side, George Washington takes his inaugural oath as the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789.

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Story highlights

Bob Greene: Patriotic songs sung at inauguration won't include "Hail to the Chief"

That song is usually played, not sung. The lyrics might not fly in the political moment, he says

Imagine Boehner joining in to "Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation...," he says

Greene: Song has come and gone for presidential entrances; words remain unsung

There will be a good deal of public singing these next few days, during the parties, celebrations and services surrounding the inauguration, and at the inaugural ceremonies themselves.

Democrats and Republicans alike will join voices and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," "God Bless America" and other patriotic songs.

Politicians and regular citizens, regardless of where they align themselves along the liberal-conservative continuum, have long been able to put aside their differences as they blend their voices for certain time-honored lyrics:

Bob Greene

"My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty..."

"O beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..."

But the song that is the centerpiece of every inauguration, and of virtually every formal public appearance by a president of the United States, will be heard instrumentally these next few days -- yet will not be sung.

The song is "Hail to the Chief."

Most people are probably unaware that it even has lyrics.

We're accustomed to hearing the United States Marine Band play the stirring, brass-heavy chords as the president comes into sight.

Why are the words to the song seldom sung?

When you read them, it's easy to surmise one possible reason. In our hyper-partisan times, it would be unrealistic to assume that members of the party out of power would want to enthusiastically belt them out.

Take this year, for example. Try to envision the television pictures of Inauguration Day, were "Hail to the Chief" expected to be sung by all the attendees.

President Obama appears from inside the Capitol, some of the TV cameras focus on Republican congressional leaders John Boehner or Mitch McConnell or Eric Cantor -- and they are presumed to wish to ardently vocalize:

"Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,

Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all,

Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation

In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call.

Yours is the aim to make this grand country grander,

This you will do, that's our strong, firm belief.

Hail to the one we selected as commander,

Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!"

Yes, those are the lyrics to "Hail to the Chief" -- and it's no wonder that few people have ever heard them. They express a lovely all-American sentiment, but--especially in our superheated political climate-- they possess the potential for some pretty awkward moments of public crooning.

Or imagine, during Bill Clinton's time in office, the sight and sound of Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole and Trent Lott harmonizing as they gaze at Clinton: "Yours is the aim to make this country grander/This you will do, that's our strong, firm belief..."

If, in these political times, the words to "Hail to the Chief" sound a little odd, the history of the song is also not short on oddity.

The phrase -- "Hail to the Chief" -- originated in Scotland in 1810 as part of a poem by Sir Walter Scott. The poem, "The Lady of the Lake," had nothing to do with the United States, or with the presidency.

1841: Harrison braves the cold

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1977: Carter walks among the people

But the story told in the poem's plot became a British stage play that made it across the ocean within a few years. Among the songs that came to the United States as part of the play was "Hail to the Chief," written by James Sanderson.

It was given new lyrics to honor the presidency, and reportedly was used in that context for the first time at an 1815 ceremony to commemorate the birthday of George Washington. It was played at the inaugurations of Presidents Martin Van Buren in 1837 and John Tyler in 1841, according to historians, and during the administration of President James Polk from 1845 to 1849 it became routinely played any time the president entered a room during public occasions.

Not everyone was in love with the song. President Chester A. Arthur, who served from 1881 to 1885, directed the leader of the Marine Band to compose a new one to replace it.

Fortunately for Arthur, the leader of the Marine Band at the time was a pretty fair songwriter -- a young Marine sergeant major by the name of John Philip Sousa. He came up with a new tune called "Presidential Polonaise."

Unfortunately for "Presidential Polonaise," it never caught on, and "Hail to the Chief" made a return. Sousa was undeterred; he would go on to write, among other patriotic classics, "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

President Jimmy Carter, in seeking to make the trappings of his presidency a little less regal, asked that "Hail to the Chief" not be played when he made public entrances. This turned out to be a highly unpopular decision. Carter would later tell CBS News: "One of the most unpleasant things that surprised me was when I quit having 'Hail to the Chief' every time I entered a room, but there was an outcry of condemnation." Before long, "Hail to the Chief" was back.

The Marine Band continues to play it as presidents make their entrances. The words, however, continue to mostly go unsung, and that will almost certainly be the case during the inaugural festivities these next few days.

In the spirit of the history of this -- and as a nod to what might have been -- we leave you with a parting gift of music.

On behalf of Chester A. Arthur, please click and enjoy the song you never got the chance to tap your feet to. Ladies and gentlemen, the Mount Prospect, Illinois, Community Band performs, for your listening pleasure, "Presidential Polonaise."